The Australian Sake Awards Gala Dinner took place on Thursday 26th September, 2024.

The event was held in Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel’s ‘Marble Room’ in Sydney.

This was the first year for ASA to host a formal, sit-down dinner, with the menu designed around the food component from this year’s judging, paired with the winning sake from each category.

Guests began arriving from 6pm, including many guests visiting from Japan, exclusively for the ceremony, to represent their respective businesses and breweries. We were delighted to welcome members from some of the award winning breweries to this wonderful event and to celebrate their winning sake in style.

Other guests included Japanese Government representatives, Japanese and Australian media, local sake importers and members of this year’s ASA judging panel.

Sake Samurai and member of the ASA head judging panel, Simone Maynard, was the MC for the evening, with speeches given from award winners, distributors and representatives. Other speeches included Yuichiro Nishida from Consulate-General of Japan in Sydney, JAMS.TV Director and ASA founder, Tsuyoshi Endo, and Will McIntyre from the ASA head judging panel. Reiko Morello provided interpretation for the speeches given in Japanese.

The menu for the evening:

Kanpai! / Welcome drink:

Kikuizumi “Hitosuji” Rose (Takizawa Shuzo)

Course 1: Charcuterie Board

Paired with 2024 award winning sake: Ozawa (Tsubosaka Shuzo)

Course 2: Poached Prawns with petit salad

Paired with 2024 award winning sake: Hakurakusei Junmai Daiginjo ‘Hikari’ (Niizawa Sake Brewery)

Course 3: Margherita Pizza

Paired with 2024 award winning sake: BORN Gold (Katoukichibee Shoten)

Course 4: Grilled Salmon with lemon butter, broccolini

Paired with 2024 award winning sake: Ohyama Tokubetsu Junmai ‘Tomizu’ (Katoh Kahachiroh Shuzo)

Course 5: BBQ Beef Eye Fillet with green beans, red wine jus

Paired with 2024 award winning sake: Shikisakura Tochigi-no-hoshi Junmai (Utsunomiya Shuzo)

Dessert: Chocolate Pudding and petit fours

Paired with 2022 award winning sake: Juji-asahi Junmai Kimoto Genshu Gohyaku-mangoku 2016 (Asahi Shuzo – Juji Asahi)

Closing speeches from Simone Maynard and Tsuyoshi Endo reflected on just how far ASA has come in only 3 years, as well as sharing ASA’s hopes and visions for the future – not just for the awards competition, but for sake in Australia.

The ASA Gala Dinner was a wonderful way to celebrate Australia’s only sake awards competition and a selection of this year’s award winning sake ~ and to also celebrate the growing interest in, and love for, sake here in Australia.

A huge thank you to everyone who attended this event, to everyone who entered the awards, and to everyone who has supported the Australian Sake Awards over the past 3 years.
We look forward to another exciting year of ASA in 2025.
The full list of the 2024 award winners can be viewed here:
https://australiansakeawards.org.au/en/awards/